Two-way choker hook

ABSTRACT

A two-way choker hook comprises a slip sleeve dimensioned to receive a ferruled choker cable and a socket dimensioned to receive the ferrule. The socket has an eye which passes the ferrule and a communicating slot which passes the cable, but not the ferrule. These are arranged to permit entry of the ferrule either endwise through the eye, or sidewise through the eye and associated slot when seating the ferrule in the socket, thereby facilitating application of the hook.

United States Patent Wernsing I [541 TWO-WAY CHOKER HOOK v[72] Inventor:Kenneth L. Werrsing, 1931 NE.

72nd Ave., Portland, Oreg. 97213 [22] Filed: July 22, 1970 21 Appl. No.:64,851

[52] US. Cl. ..24/123 A [51] Int, Cl. ..A44b "/00 [58] Field of Search..24/123 A,'123 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,881,4964/1959 Wemsing ..24/ 123 D 2,905,993 9/ 1959 Wernsing... ...24/ 123 A2,251,319 8/1941 Brewer ..24/ 123 A 2,233,083 2/ 1941 Mackenzie ..24/123 D 1,381,616 6/1921 Buckley ..221/123 A 1,391,457 9/1921 Nadeau ..24/123 A 1151 3,683,465 1 1 Aug. 15,1972

8/1923 Wirkkala ..24/123 D 1,651,081 11/1927 Bardon ..24/123 A 3,058,18410/1962 Ritzheimer ..24/ 123 A 3,175,264 3/1965 Maras ..24/123 A PrimaryExaminer-Bemard A. Gelak Attorney-Eugene D. Farley [57] ABSTRACT Atwo-way choker hook comprises a slip sleeve dimensioned to receive aferruled choker cable and a socket dimensioned to receive the ferrule.The socket has an eye which passes the ferrule and a communicating slotwhich passes the cable, but not the ferrule. These are arranged topermit entry of the ferrule either endwise through the eye, or sidewisethrough the eye and associated slot when seating the ferrule in thesocket, thereby facilitating application of the hook.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTED M18 15 um S n a L e n w K I N VENTORa we? TWO-WAY CI-IOKER HOOK This invention relates to choker hooks suchas are employed in logging and other operations where a line is cinchedabout an object to be transported.

It is conventional practice in logging to provide a choker line havingan eye at one of its ends and a ferrule at the other. A choker hook ismounted slidably between the ends of the line. It includes a slip sleevethrough which the line passes and a socket in which the ferruleremovably may be seated.

In use, the ferrule end of the line is wrapped around the end of a log.The ferrule is seated in the socket. The eye at the other end of theline is attached to a winch. The winch draws the loop tightly about thelog and drags the log to the winch location.

Although widely used, the foregoing procedure is attended by severaltroublesome'problems.

First, the choker line customarily is a stifl" steel cable which mustlie in the proper position before the ferrule may be seated in thechoker hook socket. The necessa ry precise alignment of choker, cableand hook is particularly difficult to achieve because of the stiffnessof the cable; the great weight of the logs; the random disposition ofthe logs; and the presence of brush, branches and other interferingdebris.

Second, since the logs are dragged over the ground and the choker hookbecomes embedded in the logs, the ferrule socket becomes fouled withbark and dirt so that removal of the ferrule at the end of the operationbecomes very difficult.

Third, a serious wear problem exists where the cable enters the ferrule.

It accordingly is the general object of the present invention to providea choker hook which easily is set for the reason that the ferrule may beinserted in the choker hook socket either endwise or sideways.

Further important objects of the present invention are provision of achoker hook which does not become fouled with dirt and bark; which holdsthe ferrule securely when in use; which is easily disconnected aftereach use; and which preserves the choker line from excessive wear.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this inventionare accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specificationand claims considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the manner of application of mychoker hook during logging,

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are views in side elevation, rear elevation, andbottom plan, respectively, of the hook, FIG. 2 being partly in section;and

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are views in side elevation illustrating the manner ofapplication of the hook, FIG. 5 illustrating the endwise insertion ofthe ferrule, FIG. 6 the sidewise insertion thereof, and FIG. 7 itsengaged or use position.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a typical application of my chokerbook.

A choker line consisting of a stiff steel cable 10 has swaged to itsouter end a ferrule 12. The ferrule has a cross section greater thanthat of the cable. It is fabricated from strong steel and includes abody portion 14, a tapered leading end 16 and a bearing shoulder 18,FIG. 6. A choker hook, indicated generally at 20, is mounted slidably onthe cable.

The choker line is wrapped about the end of a log 22. Ferrule 12 isinserted in choker hook 20. The choker line then is drawn tight aboutthe log and used to winch the log, or tow it witha tractor, to a desiredlocation.

The novel construction of choker hook 20, and its operational features,are illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

The hook comprises a massive steel casting having on one end a slipsleeve 24. The slip sleeve has an opening 27 dimensioned to receivecable 10 in sliding relation. Its ends are flared outwardly to permiteasy entry of cable 10 and to minimize the possibility of wedging barkand other debris in the opening during use of the cable.

Formed integrally with slip sleeve 24 are a pair of side walls 26. Theside walls extend outwardly from the sleeve substantially at rightangles to it, i.e., at right angles to the sleeve opening. The sidewalls are substantially parallel to each other and are spaced apartsufficiently to define, at their inner portions, an opening 28 ofsufficient dimensions to pass not only cable 10, but also ferrule 12.

Sidewalls 26 carry along their outer sides a pair of flanges 30. Theflanges extend inwardly toward each other and define a slot 32dimensioned to pass cable 10, but not ferrule 12.

The flanges serve dual functions: they guide ferrule 12 into the ferrulesocket during application of the choker cable, and help retain theferrule in the socket during operation of the cable.

To this end the inner surfaces of flanges 30 are tapered upwardly in theoutward direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. Although the degree of taper issomewhat variable, it generally and preferably is determined by an angleA of from 20 to 60, with respect to the longitudinal axis LA of thehook.

A floor 34 extends outwardly from the outerends of the side wallstransversely thereto and transversely to the sleeve. The floor extendsoutwardly a substantial distance so that it is offset substantiallylaterally from the sleeve.

Floor 34 is provided with a central slot 36 which merges with slot 32defined by flanges 30. The two slots merge in substantially linearrelation. Slot 36, like slot 32, is dimensioned to pass cable 10 but notferrule 12.

The inner bearing surface of floor 34 is sloped downwardly andoutwardly, as shown particularly in FIG. 2. The degree of slope isimportant since it determines not only the ease of mounting of ferrule12, but also the location-of the ferrule during use of the choker hook.Preferably, the angle B of the slope should be from l 10 with referenceto the longitudinal axis LA of the hook, FIG. 2.

Side walls 26, flanges 30, and floor 34 thus define a ferrule socketdimensioned to receive the ferrule with its inner bearing shoulder 18hearing against the outwardly sloped inner surface of floor 34. Whencable 10 is drawn taught, the ferrule thus is maintained in its workingposition removed from eye 28, so that it can not inadvertently bounceout.

The manner of use of the herein described choker hook is illustrated inFIGS. 5,6, and 7.

As has been set forth above, it is a primary feature of the inventionthat the ferrule may be introduced either endwise, as shown in FIG. 5,or sideways, as shown in FIG. 6, depending upon the relative positionsof the choker line and log when the hookup is being made.

In the endwise insertion of the ferrule, the ferrule and adjacent cablesegment are inserted endwise as shown in FIG. 5 until the ferrule haspenetrated the hook completely. The cable then is swung counterclockwiseand pulled tight until the FIG. 7 position is attained.

In the sideways insertion of the ferrule, the ferrule and adjacent cableare placed in their FIG. 6 position with the ferrule aimed angularly ateye 28 and the cable inserted in registering slots 32, 36.

Upon tensioning the cable and moving it clockwise, the ferrule firstmoves endwise through the guideway formed by sidewalls 26 and flanges 30until it has cleared the slip sleeve completely. Angular clockwisemovement of the cable coupled with continued application of tensioningforce, then draws the ferrule to its FIG. 7 operational position.

As the heavy log is drawn along the ground, the ferrule remains securelymounted within the hook. Even though it bounces with uneven applicationof force, it continually is urged outwardly by the outwardly slopingsurface of floor 34 so that it does not bounce out of eye 28. Inaddition, wear on the cable is kept at a minimum, as is wedging of bark,dirt and other debris into the ferrule socket. Accordingly at theconclusion of the operation the ferrule may be removed from the hookwith a minimum of effort.

Having thus described my invention in preferred embodiments, I claim asnew and desire to protect by letters patent;

l. A choker hook for use on a choker cable provided with an end ferrulehaving a cross section greater than the cross section of the cable, thechoker hook comprising a, a slip sleeve dimensioned to receive thecable,

b, a pair of substantially parallel walls extending substantiallyperpendicularly outwardly from the slip sleeve and spaced apartsufliciently to provide between their inner portions an eye dimensionedto pass the ferrule,

c, a pair of flanges extending inwardly toward each other from the outerportion of the side walls and defining a slot dimensioned to pass thecable, but not the ferrule, the flanges sloping upwardly in the outwarddirection for guiding the ferrule into the socket, the slope of theflanges being from 20-60 with reference to the longitudinal axis of thehook,

d, a floor extending outwardly from the outer ends of the side wallstransversely thereto and to the sleeve, the inner bearing surface of thefloor being downwardly inclined in the outward direction, its slopebeing from l 10 with reference to the longitudinal axis of the hook,

e, the floor having a central slot merging with the slot between theside walls and dimensioned to pass the cable, but not the ferrule,

f, the side walls, flanges and floor defining a socket dimensioned forreceiving the ferrule during the use of the choker hook.

1. A choker hook for use on a choker cable provided with an end ferrulehaving a cross section greater than the cross section of the cable, thechoker hook comprising a, a slip sleeve dimensioned to receive thecable, b, a pair of substantially parallel walls extending substantiallyperpendicularly outwardly from the slip sleeve and spaced apartsufficiently to provide between their inner portions an eye dimensionedto pass the ferrule, c, a pair of flanges extending inwardly toward eachother from the outer portion of the side walls and defining a slotdimensioned to pass the cable, but not the ferrule, the flanges slopingupwardly in the outward direction for guiding the ferrule into thesocket, the slope of the flanges being from 20-60* with reference to thelongitudinal axis of the hook, d, a floor extending outwardly from theouter ends of the side walls transversely thereto and to the sleeve, theinner bearing surface of the floor being downwardly inclined in theoutward direction, its slope being from 95110* with reference to thelongitudinal axis of the hook, e, the floor having a central slotmerging with the slot between the side walls and dimensioned to pass thecable, but not the ferrule, f, the side walls, flanges and floordefining a socket dimensioned for receiving the ferrule during the useof the choker hook.